Standard
Notation for the
Tab-Addicted Mandolinist offers long-time tab-addicts and by-ear players the shortest path to reading music available. It is also an excellent introduction to mandolin
for those who already read treble clef fluently but need to learn the
fretboard. "Debora
Chen’s Standard Notation Book is the first of its kind. A generous,
clear and approachable book designed to unlock the mysteries of reading
music for the many who have been playing with tablature or by ear for
most of their lives..." (more) --Mike Marshall"...Now at last Debora Chen shares a new approach and there's a lot to like about it... The etudes are a series of attainable goals, not the usual 'do the best you can, you might get it someday' material... this book should be helpful to students and teachers of any style of mandolin playing who have been looking for ways to bring note reading within their grasp." (more)--Don Stiernberg

"Debora
Chen's book, 'Standard Notation for the Tab Addicted Mandolinist' is
an essential volume for ANY student of the mandolin... Thank you so much Debora, I can't wait to purchase
your next book!!! (more)--Tony Williamson

Why is it so hard to learn to read from fiddle tunes? The
hallmark of a good fiddle tune is that it is catchy. A typical trad
musician has a good memory for melodies, and so after hearing it maybe
three times, will remember it at least partially by ear. It is very
difficult to learn to read from tunes you already know by ear.
Secondly, good fiddle tunes are artfully laced with unexpected notes--
it’s what separates good fiddle tunes from forgotten ones.

Learning to
read (efficiently) requires a certain amount of structured repetition.
That is where the material in this book can help accelerate the
process. Several trad style tunes (AABB, 16 bars) are supplied, but
are restricted in pitch so that they will reinforce your visual memory
of the note names/fingerings.The
exercises are designed to be sufficiently melodious to be engaging
practice material, but not so catchy that they will stick tenaciously
to your ear. By working through the exercises, you will systematically
build the number of notes you recognize at sight, culminating in
having visual recognition of the full range of the notes of first
position (the first seven frets) corresponding to the key of G. Armed
with this information, you can then adjust your fingering to
accommodate other keys to play any music that interests you when you
complete the book.

Why is it so hard to learn to read from jazz standards?

To learn to read notation from jazz tunes is to infer the rules of a system by studying the exceptions. It's perfectly possible, but labor intensive, and quite likely to create the impression that the system itself is far more complex than it actually is.

"I
thought I had seen every book like this, but yours is head and
shoulders above anything else available. Thank you for putting together
the best thought out music book..."-- Rich S., Tennessee
"I recently purchased your book SNFTAM and I wanted to tell
you it is fantastic. It has been very helpful to me so far in teaching me what I need to know to master standard notation. I think you managed to include only what is
absolutely essential ... your explanations were also helpful
as well." -- Joe F., New Jersey

"I received your book a few days ago and it has been immediately helpful to me...after only a few days, I have already made great strides in reading. Thanks for a great book." -- Laurie D., New York

"I must have a million music books - some are 4 times the size of this one - yet I can see immediately that this will be the most useful music book I've ever purchased!"-- Jill G., California

"'Standard Notation for the Tab Addicted Mandolinist' is the first music instruction book I have ever finished cover to cover. What a great book..." --Mitchel G., New Jersey

"The notation book is terrific. Concise, logical, and best of all explains why the exercises are set up as they are."-- Richard K., Connecticut

"...I am really enjoying your
Standard Notation Book. I have been playing mandolin for over 30 years
now and reading music has always been somewhat difficult. I have been
using your 15 minutes a day for a week on each section idea and I can
honestly say that I see real progress."-- Alan E., Michigan

"I love your book as it is very informative and is teaching me things I did not understand. The exercises are brilliant and easy to understand, even for beginners like myself..." --Tony Marshall, United Kingdom

"Finally,a clear way to 'see' the mandolin fretboard in terms of standard notation...I've tried to learn 'music' so many times I've lost count, but snftam finally gave me a way to do it constructively that I haven't quit!" --Chris B., Virginia

"...I appreciate that the exercises are not overly complicated, yet after just a couple of hours I found myself not having to look at my hands all the time to find out where I was. Thanks for such a great book."-- Mark C., Georgia

"...in your book you...do it one better by creating the
foundation for proper positional playing so the fingerings become
self-evident. Nicely done." -- Ian M., Michigan